Adult ADHD - 20-year Study

Findings from the first ever population-based study to follow children with ADHD into adulthood (a 20-years study by Mayo Clinic) are published in the April 2013 issue of Pediatrics. According to Dr. William Barbaresi , lead author, ADHD is by far the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood.” It is characterized by trouble with inattentiveness, hyperactive behavior or impulsiveness, and sometimes a combination of all three. Study findings indicated that approximately 30% of children with ADHD will continue to have it as a chronic problem in adulthood, and 80% of those adults typically have at least one other condition (e.g., substance abuse, major depression, anxiety, anti-social behaviors). Over the next year or so, Barbaresi and his team expect to release more study findings, including statistics on relationships, education, employment, and psycho-social outcomes evidenced by adults with chronic ADHD. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated that up to 9.5% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been reported as having ADHD.